3 The Spirit's Sword

May 11, 1997 Northside church of Christ · 5201 NW RD · Bellingham, WA Volume 1.13

The Spirit's Sword

The Sin Of Ingratitude

_The Christian's life should be abounding in thanksgiving unto God (Col. 2:7). We, above all people, should live thankful lives, having obtained the unsearchable riches of Christ through obeying His gospel (Eph. 3:8). Every spiritual blessing is ours (Eph. 1:3), and consequent­ly, thanksgiving ought to be a continuous part of our being (Eph. 5:3-4). Our every prayer and our every action should portray gratitude to our loving and gracious Father and His Beloved Son (Eph. 5:20).

But sadly, the sin of ingratitude can and does affect the children of God. Like spoiled children expecting to have things "our way," we forget that every good gift comes from our heavenly Father (Js. 1:17). We begin thinking and living as if God is obliged to answer our prayers, to shower us with our every desire, and to grant us heaven as if it were our due. Like Israel who forgot that Jehovah had brought them out of Egyptian bondage, we are tempted to say "My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth" (Deut. 8:11-20). How deluded we become!

The story of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus with only one returning to thank Him (and that, a Samaritan), should remind us of the importance of gratitude toward God (Lk. 17:11-19). The Lord's mercy was shown to all ten lepers, but nine of them were so consumed with them­selves and their new found health that they entirely failed to honor the source of their healing. They had pled to Jesus as "Master" for their healing (v.13), yet only one revealed his faith in Jesus by returning to thank Him (v.15-19).

Like the Samaritan, we should "glorify God" and give Him our continual thanks for the mercy He has shown us in healing us from our sins! Our thanksgiv­ing is an expression of our faith (Lk. 17:19).

What better time than today to renew your resolve to be thankful to God at all times? When was the last time you gave thanks to the Lord?

"AT MIDNIGHT I WILL RISE TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THEE" (PSALMS 119:62).

-jrp

Assignments: Sunday, May 11

Announcements: Terry Haith

Opening Prayer: Terry Haith / Dan Torres

Closing Prayer: Gary Bass / Willie Golightly

Song Leader: D. Torres / Clarence Gardner

Scripture: C. Clemenson / TBA

Lord’s Supper: L Parker/S Bass/R McGrew

Building Cleanup (May 17): Gardner

Motherhood

“Honor thy father and thy mother.” (Exo. 20:12)

“A foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.” (Prov. 10:1)

“Despise not thy mother when she is old.” (Prov. 23:22)

“A virtuous woman looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. He children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” (Prov. 31:27-28)

S ERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday: 9:30 & 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:00 PM

The Church of Christ

_The expression "church of Christ" is a descriptive term of posses­sion. "Church" is a collective noun (like "flock" or "family") which is composed of saved souls (Christians, the "called out" ones, Acts 2:41, 47). "Church of Christ" is used to signify the church which belongs to Christ.

As such, we emphatically state that the church of Christ is not a denomination. While many promote the advantages of "the church of your choice," Jesus' urgent prayer to the Father was for the unity of His believers, not their division into religious sects (Jn. 17:20-21). Denominational­ism is the essence of religious division. We plead for the unity of believers with the truth of Jesus as the basis for that unity (Eph. 4:3-6; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Others would promote the notion that the church is not important -- Christ is. Yes, Christ is preeminently important (Col. 1:18). But, we must also acknowledge the importance of His church. The one does not negate the other. The importance of Christ's church is brought into focus by accepting the following facts about His church:

1) It belongs to Jesus, not man. (Mt. 16:18) Jesus built it. It is His. Man should not construct rivals to it.

2) Jesus purchased His church with His blood. (Acts 20:28) This is the value Jesus attaches to the saved, His church.

3) Jesus is the Head of the church of Christ. (Col. 1:18) Since it is His, He exercises supreme authority over it. That is how valuable it is to Him.

4) The church of Christ is the Body of Christ. (Eph. 1:22-23) Who wants to believe for a moment that Christ's body of believers is insignificant?!

5) Jesus is its Savior. (Eph. 5:23) That is how important the church is to Jesus!

How important is the church of Christ to you? -jrp

In Honor Of Mothers

Today is the annual day in this country for extolling the virtues of motherhood. It is one of the busiest days of the year for telephone companies, florists and restaurants. And, the greeting card industry likes to see the second Sunday in May roll around!

There ought to be more to honoring mothers than a flower, a card, a telephone card, or a meal out. None of us would have life without a mother. She bore us, fed us, dressed us, trained us and cared for us when we could not care for ourselves. God blessed the world with love with He made mothers. The mother who gives her energy and devotion to the well-being of her children and home deserves daily recognition of her good works (Prov. 31:28). Rise up and call your mother "bless­ed!"

And yet, a mother's love is not inbred. The tragedy of child neglect and abuse at the hands of some mothers is horrifying testimony to this fact. Young women must learn to love their children (Tit. 2:4). A brief reflection on some Bible mothers will help every mother learn more about fulfilling her role, as well as help us who still have our mothers to appreciate the many things she means to us.

Jochebed, the mother of Moses, reminds us that mothers are supreme­ly interested in the life and safety of their children (Ex. 2:1-10). Mothers not only give life, they are also the sustainers of life! Rather than give her child up to the slaughter which Pharaoh had mandated against the Hebrew male infants, she devised a scheme which not only saved the child's life, but also insured that she would continue to care for him! Her faith in the provisions of God was rewarded (Heb. 11: 23). While mothers will always do whatever they can to see that their children's physical needs are met, we urge mothers to also remember your children's need for spiritual life and safety. Do not neglect the eternal welfare of your child while seeing to his temporal safety. We honor all mothers who love their children in this way!

Hannah reminds us that an important part of motherhood is to instill within children a devotion to God. She was not able to bear children, and was weighted down with sorrow due to her condition (1 Sam. 1:1-8). Her vow to God was that if He would bless her with a man-child, that same child (which she so desperately longed for) would be devoted to God all the days of his life (1 Sam. 1:9-18). God answered her petition, and she named her son Samuel ("asked of Jehovah"). Women who want to be mothers still pray for children, and women who are about to give birth pray for their unborn children. Mothers who honor God never forget to talk to God about their children and about being good mothers to them. God has given mothers a unique opportunity to affect the devotion of the next generation. Mothers who truly love their children "give them to God" by living godly lives, by teaching and guiding their children in godliness, and by setting good examples for them to follow. Mothers who devote their children to God are truly a blessing from God!

Lois and Eunice were mothers who gave the blessing of instruction in God's word to Timothy (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14-15). His mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois were women of strong faith. Their faith helped Timothy to develop a genuine faith in God. Since faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17), it is evident that this mother and grand­mother had taught the word of God to Timothy. From the time he was a babe Timothy was taught the "sacred writings" (2 Tim. 3:15). Mothers are the first people to shape the thinking and values of their children. What better things to put into the minds and lives of your children than stories about Jesus, the importance of truth, the value of prayer. When a mother opens her mouth, "wisdom and the law of kindness" should be on her tongue (Prov. 31:26).

Needless to say, motherhood brings its trials. There is the trial of time and using it wisely (Eph. 5:16). It may seem there are days when you simply do not have time to sit down and hear what happened at school, to draw a picture or read a story. But please remember that time is slipping away and one day those opportunities will be gone. And, what mother does not understand the trial of patience and the need for self-control (1 Cor. 9:26)? The demands placed on mothers are great, and the wise mother remembers to exercise restraint through prayer. The many responsibilities which fall upon this ruler of the household (1 Tim. 5:14) call upon her to maintain humility, unselfishness, and diligence.

Mothers are a gift from God! It is very true that “a foolish man despiseth his mother” (Prov. 15:20). I thank God for my mother. And to all that are mothers, be sure to thank God for the blessing of being a mother! -Joe Price